Posts in category: Diplomacy

When Royal Caribbean’s fourth Icon class ship, Hero of the Seas, makes its debut in August 2027, it will have one of the most, if not the most, unique cabin at sea.

Royal Caribbean first introduced the Ultimate Family Suite several years ago and it’s currently on six of their Oasis and Quantum cruise ships.

When Icon class ships debuted, the cruise line raised the bar and introduced the Ultimate Family Townhouse which is currently on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

When Hero of the Seas launches next summer, the Ultimate Family Townhouse will be accompanied by the Ultimate Family Treehouse. The Ultimate Family Townhouse will stay in the same spot as on sister ships and the The Ultimate Family Treehouse will be located with the suites on decks 17, 18 and 19.

This three-deck treehouse, cabin number 17022, will feature a rooftop terrace, a private hot tub, a two-deck teen space, and have two main bedrooms. Both bedrooms will have their own bathroom and balcony.

The Ultimate Family Treehouse has a guest capacity of 12 and is listed at 2,088 square feet and 705 square feet of balcony space. It has two king-size beds, four twin-size beds, one bunk bed with two twin beds, and one double sofa bed. It also has four bathrooms.

How much does it cost to book this incredible new stateroom on Royal Caribbean. While prices vary from sailing to sailing, some cruises can be booked starting at $43,040 per person for a seven night cruise to the Western Caribbean.

For cruises over the holidays, the price goes as high as $187,660 per person for the December 30, 2027 sailing. All prices listed are based on double occupancy.

The cabin opened for bookings just a few days ago and the Ultimate Family Treehouse is already mostly booked for 2027. It’s booked for the first 13 cruises on the ship with the first open date being the November 6, 2027 sailing.

The only other sailings in 2027 where the Ultimate Family Treehouse has not yet been booked at the time of press are the December 4, 11, and 23 departures. The December 23, 2027 cruise over Christmas is listed at $105,427.98 per person.

The following Star Class perks are included with the cabin:

• Exclusive Access to Royal Genie Service
• All Day Access to Coastal Kitchen
• Complimentary dining throughout the ship, including most specialty dining venues***
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package (for guests 21 years or older, or 18 and over where applicable by law)
• Complimentary Refreshment Package (for guests under legal drinking age)
• Still and Sparkling Water Replenished Daily
• Complimentary Gratuities
• Complimentary VOOM, The Fastest Internet at Sea
• Expedited Boarding and Departure
• Best Seats in the House in Select Entertainment Venues
• Priority Entrance to Many Onboard Activities
• Suite Lounge Access (complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails each evening)
• Access to Suite Sun Deck
• Royal Caribbean Plush Bathrobes for Use Onboard
• Complimentary Minibar stocked with Coca-Cola® Beverages and Water
• Complimentary Laundry and Pressing Services
• Luxury Mattress and Pillows
• Frette Linens
• Luxury Bathroom Amenities
• Lavazza Espresso Coffee Maker

Hero of the Seas will homeport at the Cruise Capital of the World, PortMiami. From Miami, the cruise ship will sail seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. (View Prices on Cruises on Hero of the Seas)

Every cruise on the ship will visit Royal Caribbean popular private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Carnival Cruise Line guests who are scheduled to sail on Carnival Horizon on April 5, 2026, are being told to arrive at the port 2 hours later than planned.

The cruise line has also informed passengers currently on the 4,000-guest vessel that an unspecified “mechanical issue” has made it necessary for the ship to slow its speed.

This slower speed means the ship will arrive in PortMiami later than originally planned, giving current passengers an extra hour or so to enjoy their cruise vacation.

In a letter sent to passengers currently on board, the cruise line confirmed the issue, after an announcement was also made over the ship’s PA system.

“Our engineers are actively working to repair a minor mechanical issue, which requires us to reduce our speed slightly. As a result, we now expect to dock in Miami at 8:30 AM, a little later than originally scheduled,” the letter stated.

Logistics in Delays

While an extra couple of hours on a cruise might feel like a nice bonus at first, it also means that travel arrangements might need to be adjusted.  After all, an 11:00: AM flight home from MIA just became a nail-biter for those on board with tight travel plans.

Carnival’s letter also informed cruisers that Wi-Fi would be available to everyone on board so these arrangements can be taken care of. 

The letter also stated that it could be presented to airline representatives to help with fees if flight changes were needed.

Recent Issues with Horizon

Carnival Horizon has had several mechanical issues over recent months.  Propulsion troubles and issues with maintaining cruising speeds delayed other cruises last year as well.

On social media, frequent cruisers have noted the ship’s recent technical difficulties, with one Facebook user saying, “Oh boy this again. It’s setting off ptsd from my November trip on this ship.”

Reports from past cruises in November 2025 and February 2026 describe similar speed restrictions that led to arrival delays of up to 8 hours and, in some cases, canceled port visits.

While a turbocharger on one of the engines was reportedly replaced in December 2025, today’s delay doesn’t give us a lot of details to go on.  It might not be related to the propulsion system at all.

Handling Delays

Delays happen.  It’s not unheard of.  But stories like this are good opportunities to make sure you are prepared for your next cruise should you experience a similar delay.  I always recommend having cruise travel insurance.  Not only will it cover things like flight delays and missed flights, but a good plan will also cover all of those extra things like the need to book a hotel, rental car, etc.  On top of this, you’ll just have some peace of mind that a delay won’t hurt you financially.  

I know how one missed flight can lead to a domino effect of all kinds of extra expenses that you probably didn’t put into the cruise budget.

Additionally, keep up with all communications from the cruise line.  You can do this through Carnival’s Hub App, but the company will also send updates through email.  If the cruise line says to arrive at the port two hours later, follow this advice. If too many people arrive before the current passengers can get off the ship it just causes a massive traffic bottleneck that causes even more delays.

Looking Ahead

Horizon is currently maintaining its scheduled itineraries, so that’s good news so far.  The next cruise will depart Miami slightly behind schedule but nothing that would interfere with ports of call, at least not at this point.

The vessel is slotted to depart PortMiami on April 5 for a 6-day cruise that will visit Celebration Key, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman before returning back to Miami on April 11.

Carnival Horizon is scheduled for major maintenance in June 2026, where a permanent fix for the propulsion system is expected to be put into place.

Port Tampa Bay is running out of room. According to officials, the port’s three existing cruise terminals are operating at or near maximum capacity. So, a new terminal is in the works.

Tampa Busier Than Ever

Tampa might not offer the busiest cruise port in Florida or the largest ships, but it’s breaking its own records as more cruise passengers than ever hop on its available ships from five different cruise lines.

The port welcomed a record 1.66 million cruise passengers in 2025, which is the highest total in its history. It’s now on track for about 1.8 million passengers in 2026, with a record 51 ship calls in March and 394 expected in all of 2026.

This Saturday three ships are scheduled: Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, and Carnival Paradise.

While Tampa can’t host mega-ships (those too tall to pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge), the port is moving forward with a new terminal right in its same location.

And according to news reports from Tampa Latest, the port is “already turning away new cruise itineraries due to limited space.”

A Fourth Terminal

Port Tampa Bay is actively planning a fourth cruise terminal.  Currently the port offers three cruise terminals in the downtown Channelside area: Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 6. 

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported that this new terminal will be able deliver up to 200 more ship calls each year and bring over 1 million additional passengers.

This would put the port’s yearly totals well over 2.5 million once the new building project is completed.

Everything is still in the early planning phase, and design work is expected to be complete over the next year.  

The goal is to improve passenger flow, reduce downtown traffic congestion, add modern amenities like shore power, and give the major homeport lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Margaritaville at Sea) the extra capacity they need.

Bay News 9 stated that construction has begun on the new Terminal 6 facility, with a target opening around 2029.

Skyway Port Plans Still Dead

This fourth Tampa Bay terminal is separate from the so-called “Skyway Port” in Manatee County we reported on last month.  The plan for a brand-new mega-ship terminal on the Gulf side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is currently dead in the water.

On top of facing strong environmental and community opposition, that project was also blocked after Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 302 in March 2026.

Cruise Fever will keep monitoring the developments of Tampa’s cruise port as it continues to grow and offer more options to Tamp Bay residents.

Last summer, Carnival Cruise Line opened their newest private port in The Bahamas, Celebration Key. Now, the port has been officially certified as the first cruise destination to earn KultureCity’s prestigious sensory inclusion certification.

Over two million guests have visited the new cruise port since it opened last July. Carnival Cruise Line is trying to make the guest experience at the port inclusive and fun, including families with sensory needs.

Carnival has had a partnership with KultureCity for the last six years. They are a leading nonprofit organization that creates sensory-inclusive spaces for individuals with invisible disabilities such as autism, dementia, PTSD, and sensory processing disorders.

Over 400 team members who work at Celebration Key are now trained to help guests with sensory needs navigate the unique experience they will have at the port.

Complimentary guest sensory bags with noise-reducing headphones, fidget tools, and glasses with filters to block-out strobe and bright lights are also now available.

The bags also include a VIP lanyard featuring a headphone logo and light bulb symbol to discreetly signal to Carnival team members that the guest may require additional support or accommodations as well as a feelings thermometer that allows non-verbal guests to point and communicate their emotions.

On Friday, Carnival Cruise Line is holding a sensory pop-up at Celebration Key to celebrate World Autism Acceptance Month.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“This milestone demonstrates Carnival’s dedication to making vacations accessible and enjoyable for all, including families with sensory processing needs. By training our team members and offering tailored resources both on board and at Celebration Key, we ensure every guest feels supported, understood, and welcome.”

Uma Srivastava, executive director of KultureCity, added:

“Creating truly inclusive experiences means anticipating the needs of every guest before they arrive—and meeting them with empathy, understanding, and thoughtful support. By certifying Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line is setting a new standard for the travel industry, ensuring that individuals with sensory needs and invisible disabilities can fully participate in and enjoy every moment of their journey.”

A mom’s story about her son’s injury on a Disney cruise ship has led to real safety improvements in one of the ship’s popular toddler splash pads.

According to Courtney Livingston, her young son was playing in the Finding Nemo splash pad on the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream when he fell from a “coral-shaped structure” and broke his leg (his femur to be exact).

It all happened on a previous sailing.  But after being back on the ship again she took to Instagram and posted a reel with this caption:

“After my son fell and broke his leg on the Finding Nemo Splash pad on the Disney Dream, they made it safer!”

Courtney’s reel shows her son being transported off the ship and in the medical facility after the accident.  Then the video goes to the changes at the splash pad.

Disney reportedly gave the family a complimentary future cruise after the incident.  

When they returned to the same Disney cruise ship, Courtney noticed some safety changes when she went back to the deck 11 splash pad at Nemo’s Reef.

The coral fixture her son fell from is now completely gone. The flooring, which some parents in the comments had called slippery when wet, has also been replaced with a different look and feel. 

What Other Parents Said

Other families left comments in the reel and shared their own experiences:

“Sorry to hear about your son! We went last month and my daughter slipped and fell. Luckily she was ok but I was shocked the floor was very slippery. Especially since it’s an area  for little kids,” one commenter said.

Another parent wrote:

“We were onboard 2-3 years ago and yes, it was slick. So happy to see they improved it.”

And yet another had the same experience with that slippery floor: “I had the same thing happen with my daughter a couple years ago on the Dream. She slipped and hit her head pretty hard. So glad they finally changed it!” another comment reiterated.

A Positive Update

Accidents like this can happen in any busy play area both on a cruise ship and on land.  But this story shows that Disney Cruise Line listened to a family’s experience and made changes so the same thing can’t happen again.

Nemo’s Reef is mainly for children under 4. The recent changes keep the fun while removing at least one potential issue. Disney has not made an official public statement, but the updates were noticeable to Courtey right away, which makes sense after such a serious injury.

Splash pads can be a bit chaotic on any cruise ship. It’s important for parents to keep a close eye on their children and understand that these spaces are in fact slippery.  Water shoes can help, but also enjoying these areas during the less busy times can help avoid injury as well.

In this case, I’m glad the little guy is back on his feet and running around again, and I hope he knows how lucky he is to have a mom that takes him on cruises.